Open data for AI: what now?

In order to fight the epidemic, timely, relevant, and high-quality open data were globally shared. This cooperative and efficient undertaking could serve as a blue-print for a better and more sustainable future for all.

Having raw data is the first essential step in processing and transforming them into actionable information. But the required data need to have certain characteristics, such as being accurate, timely and reliable. Further critical aspects of data are that they are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) by anyone for any purpose.

The aim of these guidelines is to apprise Member States of the value of open data, and to outline how data are curated and opened. These guidelines specify concrete steps that Member States can take to open their data in three phases - Prepare, Open, Follow-up.

These guidelines follow up on the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which, among other topics, includes a call for open data for AI. These guidelines will also play a crucial role in supporting the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science by facilitating data sharing, enhancing reproducibility and transparency, promoting data interoperability and standards, supporting data preservation and long-term access.